Container end



1957 J. 5. SONG 3,337,084

CONTAI NER END Filed Feb. 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4% INVENTOR JOHN S. Sous ATTORNEY 5 J. S. SONG Aug. 22, 1967 CONTAI NER END 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1965 JOHN S SONG fiwzm 'ITORNEYS United States Patent York Filed Feb. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 434,059 9 Claims. (Cl. 220-54) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in container constructions, and more particularly to a novel container end of the easy opening type.

The customary easy opening container end includes a removable tear strip which is defined by weakening lines and which has a starting end to which a separate pull tab is secured. The attachment of the pull tabs to the tear strips has presented manufacturing problems and accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a novel easy opening container end wherein the pull tab is formed as an integral part of the tear strip with the pull tab being formed from the metal of the container end and being cut therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel container end of the easy opening type which includes an integral pull tab and tear strip formed from the material of the container end, the tear strip remaining an integral part of the container end and being defined by weakening lines, and the pull tab being totally severed from the surrounding material of the container end and remaining attached thereto only by its connection with the tear strip, the container end being sealed around the pull tab by means of a sealing disc suitably sealed to the underside of the end panel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel container end of the easy opening type which is particularly adapted for the dispensing of liquids which may be packaged under pressure, the container end including a tear strip having an outer generally triangular portion and an inner connecting strap portion, the tear strip having attached thereto an integral pulltab formed from the material of the container end, the pull tab being generally circular in outline and being positioned centrally of the container end, the container end being sealed surrounding the pull tab by means of a sealing disc suitably bonded thereto.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a container end of the type set forth above wherein the sealing disc is downwardly bowed so as to resist pressures from within the associated container whereby the pressure within the container will have no effect whatsoever on the sealing of the container end by the sealing disc.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel container end of the easy opening type which includes a tear strip having an integral pull tab cut from the material of the container end, the material of the container end containing the pull tab being outwardly offset so as to define a seat, a sealing disc positioned within the seat and means bonding the sealing disc to the offset portion of the container end to seal the opening formed in the formation of the pull tab.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel container end of the type set forth above wherein the container end is provided with locking projections which permit the sealing disc to be snapped into place and retained mechanically in place during the application of the necessary sealing compound.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel container end of the easy opening type which includes a tear strip having an integral pull tab, the pull ta'b being formed from the material of the container end, with the pull tab being integrally connected to the tear strip by means of a connecting strap portion of the tear strip, the pull tab being provided with transverse ribbing to ice both reinforce the pull tab and facilitate the gripping thereof, the pull tab being further provided with longitudinal ribbing adjacent the connecting strap portion and extending towards the connecting strap portion so as to stiffen the connection between the pull tab and the tear strip.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top fragmentary perspective view of a container having the upper ends thereof closed by means of a container end formed in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 and shows the container immediately after it has been opened by the removal of the tear strip thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the container end of FIGURE 1 and shows further the details thereof.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3 and shows further the details of the container end.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the container end with the view taken generally along the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view similar to FIGURE 3 and shows a modified form of can end construction.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the central portion of the container end of FIGURE 6 and shows the details of the sealing thereof.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 6 and shows further the details of construction of the container end.

FIGURE 9 is another fragmentary plan view similar to FIGURE 3 and shows still another form of container end construction.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 1010 of FIGURE 9 and shows the details of the container end construction.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a container which is generally referred to by the numeral 15. The illus trated container is in the form of a conventional can and will be so described hereinafter although the container may be of any type of construction. The container 15 includes a conventional can body 16 to which there is secured by means of a conventional double seam 17 a container end which is formed in accordance with this invention, the container end being generally referred to by the numeral 18.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 in particular, it will be seen that the container end 18 includes an end panel 19 which is surrounded by a downwardly recessed shock absorbing head 20 which, in turn, is connected to a chuck wall 21, the chuck wall 21 forming part of a peripheral attaching portion of the container end 18 and being a portion of the conventional double seam 17.

In order to facilitate the easy opening of the container 15, the end panel 19 of the container end 18 is provided with a removable tear strip which is generally identified by the numeral 22. The tear strip 22 is defined by a generally U-shaped weakening line 23 which is illustrated as being in the form-of a score line formed in the end panel 19, but which may be of other construction. It is also pointed out at this time that although the weakening line 23 is herein described as being generally U-shaped, it could be considered as being formed of a plurality of individual weakening lines which are interconnected and joined together at their ends.

The tear strip 22, which is particularly shaped for the dispensing of liquids, includes an outwardly flaring generally triangular outer portion 24 and an inner connecting strap portion 25. The connecting strap portion 25 has integrally connected thereto a pull tab 26 which is generally circular in outline and which is formed from the material of the end panel 19, the pull tab 26 being defined by a cut line 27 which is joined to the ends of the weakening line 23. If desired, the pull tab 26 may be notched, as at 28, at its juncture with the connecting strap portion 25.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 once again, it will be seen that the portion of the end panel 19 containing the pull tab 26 is upwardly offset so as to define a socketlike seat 30. A sealing disc 31 is snapped into the socketlike seat 30 and is mechanically retained therein by a plurality of locking ears or dimples 32 pressed downwardly from the material of the end panel 19 at circumferentially spaced positions surrounding the socket-like seat 30.

It is to be noted that the peripheral configuration of the disc 31 corresponds to that of the socket-like seat 30 and the seat 30 forms a good support for the disc 31. At the same time, an effective seal is formed between the disc 31 and the seat 30. However, in order to assure the sealing of the disc 31 with respect to the end panel 19, sealing compound 33 is applied around the peripheral edge of the disc 31 and bonded to the underside of the panel 19, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 4.

In order to effect the reinforcing of the pull tab 26 and to facilitate the gripping thereof, the pull tab 26 is provided with generally transversely extending ribbing as at 34. Also, it will be noted that the pull tab 26 has an edge portion 35 remote from the pull tab 26 which is upwardly folded so as to facilitate the initial lifting of the pull tab 26 out of the plane of the end panel 19.

It is to be noted that the connecting strap portion 25 of the tear strip 22 extends into overlying relation to the sealing disc 31. When it is desired to open the container 15, ones finger is engaged beneath the upturned edge 35 of the pull tab 26 and the pull tab lifted upwardly. This initial upward movement of the pull tab 26 does not break the seal of the container 15. After the pull tab 26 has been lifted upwardly a sufficient distance, it is gripped between ones fingers in the manner generally shown in FIGURE 2 and an upwardly and outwardly directed pull is applied thereon so as to effect the tearing of the end panel 19 along the score line 23 so that the tear strip 22 may be completely torn from the container end 18, as is shown in FIGURE 2. The sealing disc 31 remains in place after the tear strip 22 has been removed, but since it is centrally located, it in no way interferes with the pouring of a liquid from the container 15 through a dispensing opening 36 which is formed in the end panel 19 after the removal of the tear strip 22. It is to be understood that tear strip 22 may be shaped in accordance with the desired dispensing opening 36.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, wherein there is illustrated a modified form of container which is generally referred to by the numeral 40. The container 40 includes a container body 41 to which there is secured a container end 42 by means of a conventional double seam 43.

The container end 42 is of the same general construction as the. aforedescribed container end 18 and includes an end panel 44 which is recessed with respect to a peripheral attaching portion which forms a part of the double seam 43. The end panel 44 is surrounded by a shock absorbing bead 45 which is inwardly directed, as is shown in FIGURE 8. The end panel 44 is provided with an intermediately positioned downwardly offset bead 46 so as to define an upwardly offset central portion 47. In addition, the end panel 44 is reinforced by an outer upwardly offset reinforcing or stiffening rib 48 which is generally C-shaped and has opposed ends there in spaced relation, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 6.

The end panel 44 is provided with a generally U-shaped weakening or score line 49 which defines a removable tear strip 50. The tear strip 50 includes an outwardly flaring outer generally triangular portion 51 and an inwardly extending connecting strap 52. It is to be noted that the tear strip 50 is positioned between the ends of the reinforcing ribbing 48 and the connecting strap 52 extends across the head 46 into the offset central portion 47.

The central portion 47 has a generally circular out line 53 which defines a pull tab 54 cut from the material of the container end 42 and integrally connected to the connecting strap 52. It is to be noted that the pull tab 54 is partially struck out of the plane of the offset central portion 47, as is illustrated in FIGURE 8 to facilitate the lifting thereof. 1

The pull tab 54 is reinforced by transversely extending ribbing 55 which also facilitates the gripping of the pull tab 54. In addition, the pull tab 54 has a longitudinally extending rib 56 which extends into the connecting strap portion 52 of the tear strip 50 so as to reinforce the connection between the pull tab 54 and the tear strip 50. Incidentally, it is also pointed out that the pull tab 54 may be notched, as at 57, at its intersection with the connecting strap 52 to facilitate the lifting of the pull tab 54 out of the plane of the offset portion 47.

The forming of the end panel 44 with the offset portion 47 automatically defines a socket-like seat 58 surrounding the pull tab 54. A sealing disc 60 is seated within the offset portion 47 and has a peripheral edge portion 61 of a configuration corresponding to that of the seat 58 so as to permit the tight engagement of the sealing disc 60 with the seat 58. In addition, the sealing disc 60 is sealed relative to the offset portion 47 by a ring of sealing compound 62.

It is to be noted that unlike the sealing disc 31, which is substantially flat, the sealing disc 60 is downwardly bowed as at 63. It will be readily apparent that when the container 40 has a liquid under pressure therein, the gaseous pressure exerted against the sealing disc 60 will not result in the upward bowing thereof into undesired pressure contact with the overlying pull tab 54. The bowing of the sealing disc 60 permits the sealing disc 60 to withstand pressures of the type normally applied with in the container 40. This bowing of the sealing disc 60 greatly enhances the retention of the seal between the sealing disc 60 and the surrounding portion of the end panel 44.

It is also pointed out at this time that the sealing disc 60 is retained in place within the offset portion 47 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced ears or dimples 64. The ears or dimples 64 are formed from the material of the end panel 44 and are pressed inwardly so as to have the configuration generally shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. It is to be understood that the sealing disc 60 will have a snap fit past the ears or dimples 64.

The container 40 will be opened in the manner set forth above with respect to the container 15 and therefore, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

Referring now to FIGURES 9 and 10, it will be seen that there is illustrated a slightly modified form of container construction which is generally referred to by the numeral 70. The container is identical to the container 40 in all aspects with the exception of a minor change in the pull tab 54. Accordingly, like parts will be identifled with like numerals as described above with respect to the container 40. The pull tab 54 illustrated in FIG- URES 9 and 10 differs from that illustrated in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 in that the peripheral edge thereof is reversely turned, as at 71, to further reinforce the pull tab, to eliminate the undesired free raw edge, and to facilitate the lifting of the pull tab.

It is to be understood that although the pull tab and tear strip arrangements illustrated in the drawings are all directed to the type primarily adapted for dispensing liquids, the invention is not intended to be so limited. It is to be understood that the tear strip could be of the circumferential type wherein the major portion of the end panel of the associated container end is removed. It is to be understood that such a peripheral tear strip could have an inwardly directed extension which would correspond to the connecting straps of the illustrated and described tear strips.

Although only several preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An easy opening container end comprising an end panel and peripheral attaching means, said end panel having lines of weakening defining a removable tear strip which when removed defines a dispensing opening, a cut line in said end panel joining ends of said weakening lines and defining a pull tab formed from the material of said end panel and integral with said tear strip at one end thereof, and a separate disc underlying said pull tab and being bonded to said end panel surrounding said cut line, said pull tab being downwardly bowed for resisting pressure which may exist in an associated container.

2. An easy opening container end com-prising an end panel and peripheral attaching means, said end panel having lines of weakening defining a removable tear strip which when removed defines a dispensing opening, a cut line in said end panel joining ends of said weakening lines and defining a pull tab formed from the material of said end panel and integral with said tear strip at one end thereof, and a separate disc underlying said pull tab and being bonded to said end panel surrounding said cut line, said end panel being offset surrounding said pull tab to define a seat for said disc.

3. An easy opening container end comprising an end panel and peripheral attaching means, said end panel having lines of weakening defining a removable tear strip which when removed defines a dispensing opening, a cut line in said end panel joining ends of said weakening lines and defining a pull tab formed from the material of said end panel and integral with said tear strip at one end thereof, and a separate disc underlying said pull tab and being bonded to said end panel surrounding said out line, said end panel being oflFset surrounding said pull tab to define a seat for said disc and having a plurality of ears underlying said seat to retain said disc in place.

4. An easy opening container end comprising an end panel and peripheral attaching means, said end panel having lines of weakening defining a removable tear strip which when removed defines a dispensing opening, a cut line in said end panel joining ends of said weakening lines and defining a pull tab formed from the material of said end panel and integral with said tear strip at one end hereof, and a separate disc underlying said pull tab and being bonded to said end panel surrounding said cut line, said end panel being deformed at spaced intervals around said pull tab to provide mechanical locks retaining said disc in place.

5. The container end of claim 2 wherein the bonding of said disc to said end panel is effected by a ring of sealing compound.

6. An easy opening container end particularly adapted for the dispensing of liquids, said container end comprising an end panel and a peripheral attaching portion, said end panel having generally U-shaped line of weakening defining a removable tear strip which has an outwardly flaring generally triangular outer portion and an inwardly extending connecting strap portion, a cut line in said end panel joining the ends of said weakening line and defining a pull tab formed from the material of said end panel and integrally connected to said connecting strap, and a separate disc underlying said pull tab and being bonded to said end panel surrounding said cut line, that portion of said end panel containing said pull tab being upwardly ofiset relative to the adjacent portion of said end panel to define a socket-like seat for said disc.

7. The container end of claim 6 wherein said disc is downwardly bowed for opposing pressure which may exist in an associated container.

8. An easy opening container end particularly adapted for the dispensing of liquids, said container end comprising an end panel and a peripheral attaching portion, said end panel having generally U-shaped line of weakening defining a removable tear strip which has an outwardly flaring generally triangular outer portion and an inwardly extending connecting strap portion, a out line in said end panel joining the ends of said weakening line and defining a pull tab formed from the material of said end panel and integrally connected to said connecting strap, and a separate disc underlying said pull tab and being bonded to said end panel surrounding said out line, said pull tab being transversely ribbed to both reinforce said pull tab and to facilitate the gripping thereof, said ribbing also including a longitudinal rib adjacent to and projecting towards said connecting strap.

9. An easy opening container end particularly adapted for the dispensing of liquids, said container end comprising an end panel and a peripheral attaching portion, said end panel having generally U-shaped line of weakening defining a removable tear strip which has an outwardly flaring generally triangular outer portion and an inwardly extending connecting strap portion, a cut line in said end panel joining the ends of said weakening line and defining a pull tab formed from the material of said end panel and integrally connected to said connecting strap, and a separate disc underlying said pull tab and being bonded to said end panel surrounding said cut line, that portion of said end panel containing said pull tab being upwardly offset relative to the adjacent portion of said end panel to define a socket-like seat for said disc, and a peripheral rib in said end panel surrounding said seat and reinforcing said end panel outwardly of said seat, said peripheral rib being discontinuous and having opposed ends on opposite sides of said generally triangular outer portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,l=82,852 5/1965 Wilkinson 22054 3,223,277 12/1965 Zundel 22053 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN EASY OPENING CONTAINER END COMPRISING AN END PANEL AND PERIPHERAL ATTACHING MEANS, SAID END PANEL HAVING LINES OF WEAKENING DEFINING A REMOVABLE OPENING, A CUT WHICH WHEN REMOVED DEFINES A DISPENSING OPENING, A CUT LINE IN SAID END PANEL JOINING ENDS OF SAID WEAKENING LINES AND DEFINING A PULL TAB FORMED FROM THE MATERIAL OF SAID END PANEL AND INTEGRAL WITH SAID TEAR STRIP AT ONE END THEREOF, AND A SEPARATE DISC UNDERLYING SAID PULL TAB AND BEING BONDED TO SAID END PANEL SURROUNDING SAID CUT LINE, SAID PULL TAB BEING DOWNWARDLY BOWED FOR RESISTING PRESSURE WHICH MAY EXIST IN AN ASSOCIATED CONTAINER. 